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So does Tito start Beckett for Game 1 and Game 4 on short rest, lining him up to pitch game 7 if needed? Or does he use a four man rotation? The Game 4 starter going in Game 7 would be pitching on full rest.

I think the right call is to stick with the 3 man rotation, personally. The game 2 and game 3 starters would come back on full rest to start games 5 and 6, respectively. This series is set up PERFECTLY to go with a 3 man rotation.

I think the right call is to stick with the 3 man rotation, personally. The game 2 and game 3 starters would come back on full rest to start games 5 and 6, respectively. This series is set up PERFECTLY to go with a 3 man rotation.

No they wouldn't. Game 2 starts on Thursday, Oct. 25. Game 5 is Monday, Oct. 29. Game 3 is Oct. 27, Game 6 isOct. 31. That's 3 days rest for Schilling and Matsusaka, both of whom are probably better off on normal or more rest.

I hope the rotation is the same. Beckett in 1 and 5, Matsusaska in 2 and 6 (five days rest), Schilling in 4 and 7 and Wakefield/Lester in Game 4.

I think the right call is to stick with the 3 man rotation, personally. The game 2 and game 3 starters would come back on full rest to start games 5 and 6, respectively. This series is set up PERFECTLY to go with a 3 man rotation.

No they wouldn't. Game 2 starts on Thursday, Oct. 25. Game 5 is Monday, Oct. 29. Game 3 is Oct. 27, Game 6 isOct. 31. That's 3 days rest for Schilling and Matsusaka, both of whom are probably better off on normal or more rest.

I hope the rotation is the same. Beckett in 1 and 5, Matsusaska in 2 and 6 (five days rest), Schilling in 4 and 7 and Wakefield/Lester in Game 4.

Well, gm 2 --> 5 is 4 days rest and gm 4-->7 is 4 days rest so the only "problem" is game 1-->4. Basically, I think it should be decided in the 5th inning of game 1. If the game is close you have to stick with your ace and then, IMO, you should go with a 4 man rotation (although Beckett has suceded on 3 days rest before). But, if game 1 isn't close I think both teams should take the calculated risk of pulling their ace and going to Lester/Byrd for a few innings with the plan to bring their aces back for game 4.

Well, if you really do want the extra rest for Schilling, I think the rotation I'd set up would be

Game 1: Beckett
Game 2: Schilling
Game 3: Matsuzaka
Game 4: Beckett
Game 5: Lester
Game 6: Schilling
Game 7: Beckett

I think the downgrade to Lester from Matsuzaka for one game is a lot less of a deal than basically replacing a Beckett start with a Lester or Wakefield start. I just think that with this schedule, and being able to get Beckett 3 starts with only one of the 3 coming on short rest, you'd be very, very foolish not to get all 3 starts from him if possible. Obviously if you're up 3-0 after 3 games, you can make the decision not to push Beckett for Game 4, but I think it's definitely a serious option. Plus, you get Beckett if it goes to 7 games instead of Schilling.

The Game 2 and Game 3 pitchers can pitch on regular rest in Games 5 and 6. The Red Sox, on the one hand, have a pretty big drop off to their #4, but on the other hand, they'd probably much rather pitch their #2 and #3 on extra rest if at all possible.

My guess is that the Red Sox will not go with Beckett on short rest, but instead line up Beckett-Matsuzaka-Schilling. That gets two extra off days for Matsuzaka, one extra for Schilling, and lines Schilling up for a Game 7 in Boston.

If I were in charge, I would know a lot more about the pitchers' health and I might make a different decision, but I think the Sox ought to stick with the three-man rotation. Beckett has established himself as the ace, and he's done three days rest in the playoffs before. I'd be interested to see Lester pitch again in Cleveland, but either he or Wake would be pretty scary.

I'd be interested to see Lester pitch again in Cleveland, but either he or Wake would be pretty scary.

Would you use (effectively) both? Start Lester, and pull him for Wakefield if it looks like he is in trouble (or vice-versa)? That would interfere with the ability to use either in long relief, but if you did need one for that role, you've got problems.

I'm surprised everybody is so down on Dice-K. If you compare him to Carmona in the long term, they look pretty comparable in terms of value-the gap in ERA they have this year should evaporate down to nothing from here on out (Fausto had a .281 BABIP, after .341 last year in 73 innings). Yeah I don't want to see more "walk walk walk" innings from Matsuzaka any more than y'all do, but he had a ton of quality starts in the middle part of the season.

ESPN reporting that Schilling gets the game 2 start with Wakefield as the likely game 4 starter unless it's Beckett on short rest.

It seems the Sox must believe Schilling needs the rest more than Dice, based on their deployment of him thus far.

Unless they fall behind 3-0, I really would rather see the 4-man rotation in the ALCS. Perhaps its based on nothing more than a feeling, but the idea of pre-emptively announcing plans to throw your ace on short rest sends a message of desperation that is wholly unnecessary.

Unless they fall behind 3-0, I really would rather see the 4-man rotation in the ALCS. Perhaps its based on nothing more than a feeling, but the idea of pre-emptively announcing plans to throw your ace on short rest sends a message of desperation that is wholly unnecessary.

I don't think that the Sox have openly said they'll pitch Beckett on short rest. The article just speculates that they might.

I'm sure who pitches in Game 4 will depend on many factors, like how well Beckett pitches in Game 1, how hard he has to work in Game 1, and the series standings at the time. Up 3-0, you obviously don't go to Beckett on short rest. Up 2-1, probably not. Down 1-2 or 0-3, you have to go to Beckett in Game 4 though.

"Here in the states we've learned that this type of bravado usually backfires"

Though I admire your cautious approach, we've had the best team all year and I'm confident. Sure, strange things happen in the playoffs, but yeah, I'm really confident.
Don't you think the decision of who goes in game 4 will be based on how the series is going? If we are up 3-0, there is no way Beckett is throwing game 4. If we are up 2-1? Any ideas?

Darren,
Fair enough mate, sorry I missed the intent. Though you must admit you are far more cautious then some of us regarding the possibilities. Your guarded optimism is fun though as some of us just like to gee you up a bit. However in saying that...we started out with and finished with the best team and I am confident the Sox will win it all.
Joel,
I can see that. At 1-2 down, you'd most certainly have to go with Beckett in game 4, no way you are throwing Wake out there, it'd give me hives just watching it.

the last few days have felt like the last few days of a [second] spring training, waiting for the [second] season to start. Who makes the team? What's the rotation? Is everyone healthy? How many rainouts are we going to have in the first week?

#46
I blame Darren. No game for several days and he has the gaul to post buggerall at the same time so we've been picking over this weak thread for 3 days. C'mon Darren, give us something...feed the monster!

I blame Darren. No game for several days and he has the gaul to post buggerall at the same time so we've been picking over this weak thread for 3 days. C'mon Darren, give us something...feed the monster!

I actually wrote something "humourous" i sent to Darren about 3 weeks ago.